Microsoft’s next-generation Xbox console is expected to rely heavily on a full-screen version of Windows for navigation and user interaction, according to a report that adds detail to ongoing speculation about the company’s future gaming hardware plans.
Writing in Windows Central, journalist Jez Corden said the next Xbox, which Microsoft is developing in partnership with chipmaker AMD, could arrive as early as 2027 and may blur the line between a traditional console and a PC. He wrote that the “next Xbox will run full bore Windows,” suggesting a deeper integration of Microsoft’s operating system than in previous generations.
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Microsoft has already begun testing a similar approach through the Xbox Full Screen Experience on Windows-based gaming handhelds such as Asus’s ROG Ally. However, the report said the company is aware that the transition from the standard Windows desktop remains a challenge and is therefore “working on major updates to the Xbox PC app” to make the experience more seamless for living-room use.
One of the hurdles Microsoft faces is backward compatibility, particularly for console-exclusive games that do not natively run on Windows PCs. According to the report, addressing this limitation is a priority before the next console launches, with potential solutions including emulation or deeper hardware-level support.
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While the new console itself may still be several years away, Corden said Microsoft could introduce additional Xbox-branded hardware before the end of 2026. This may include a new Elite Series 3 controller focused on reducing streaming latency, as well as a possible OEM-built Xbox PC with a more conventional console-like design, reflecting Microsoft’s broader push to unify its gaming ecosystem across devices.
Source: Windows Central